It is a program called win frotz. It is just the program that reads text games. ----- Original Message ----- From: "FigureInTheCloak" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 2:08 AM Subject: Re: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind!
> Um, what's a Frotz? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "feliberto Escobar III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 6:59 PM > Subject: audyssey: A Talking WinFrotz Interpreter for the blind! > > >> Hello Everyone: >> >> My name is Beto (Bay toe) Escobar III, and I am, most likely, the newest >> entry into this list serve. Here's the deal, I've befriended a >> programmer, which works for a very large computer company, and he, >> through my pleading, decided to update one of the Windows Frotz >> Interpreters to work specifically for the blind. He included the MS >> speech engine in it so blind gamers, such as us, can now play all of >> those wonderful Infocom games on our Windows based PC! Hurray! >> >> Now, I know, just as you do, the Microsoft SAPI 5 speech Engine speech >> quality is disgusting, but the company NextUP sells fantastic SAPI 5 >> speech Engines which work wonderfully with this updated WinFrotzTTS >> Interpreter for the blind gamer! I can say this because I am using it >> right now to play all of these games! >> >> Now, believe it or not, but W. Scott Dillman, found the original Zork >> game which was written at MIT by some of the charters members of the >> Infocom Corporation, and included it in the game zip file. It is-the >> original Zork-and it is hard! I've yet to win even though I've made it >> through Zork I, II, and III! Look, just go and download the interpreter >> first, then download all of the public domain text adventures, **and** >> if you still have, or can purchase any of the Infocom games, they will >> work wonderfully as well. >> >> I was fortunate to purchase all major releases of the Infocom games e.g. >> Lost Treasures of Infocom I, II, and Masterpieces of Infocom only a >> couple of years ago, and they were all new! If I found them, you can >> too. Just read below, where the programmer, W. Scott Dillman, wrote out >> this little memo! Have fun playing! >> >> You New Friend, >> Beto Escobar III, LMSW >> >> >> >> WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter >> By W. Scott Dillman >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> >> Welcome to the most updated version of the popular WinFrotz Interpreter. >> This is an updated version of David Kinders great Inform interpreter >> 'WinFrotz 2002'. The main goal of WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter was to >> design an interface that was easy to use for the visually impaired gamer >> and to allow game play without the use of a screen reader by leveraging >> Microsoft's SAPI 5 speech Engine API. The application is freely >> available on my website for download along with a module of over 300 >> games from the Interactive Fiction Archive. This last version took a lot >> of hard work and testing, and still needs some improvement in areas. >> WinFrotzTTS was developed in my spare time and is a bit lean on good >> documentation. I advise anyone interested to stop by the forum links >> listed below and contribute to the enhancements request list and general >> conversation. The site will also run polls now and again to see which >> new features are most needed. I encourage everyone interested to stop by >> and make their voices heard. I have also briefly tested text-to-speech >> additions to 'Scare' which is another interpreter that runs Adrift text >> adventures which there seems to be a fair number of games, and a >> modification to the Level9 interpreter mostly just for nostalgia sake. >> Please direct all questions about this updated version of the >> WinFrotzTTS2002 to me at >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> >> Here are the important links: >> >> Main website: >> >> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts >> >> Main download page: >> >> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Downloads >> >> Deep link to the updated WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter download: >> >> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=v >> iewdownload&cid=2 >> >> Deep link to the IF Archive game module download: >> >> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=v >> iewdownload&cid=5 >> >> Link to the forums for discussion: >> >> http://www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts/modules.php?name=Forums >> >> Below is a list of features and a brief introduction to how the >> application works. >> >> Game loading: >> >> When the app is started it will search a directory for games, the >> default is the directory where WinFrotzTTS is installed. You will >> probably never have >> to change this so when the app starts just hit return when it asks you >> to pick a directory to scan. After the app has scanned the directories >> looking for >> games it will present you with a list by telling you how many games it >> has found. At this point you can use the up and down arrow keys to move >> through >> the list of games and it will read the titles aloud. You can also hit >> the first letter of a title and it will skip to that letter in the list, >> the list >> is sorted alphabetically, so you would hit the letter z and it would >> skip ahead in the list to Zork 1 most likely. The arrow keys work well >> for the short >> list of Infocom games, but I have 326 games installed and it is easier >> to jump ahead to a letter if I know the game I want to play. >> >> After finding the game you want just hit return and it will load up. >> >> You can hit 'escape' to dismiss this dialog. If you click cancel the >> standard file dialog is presented. Games loaded using the standard >> dialog are not guaranteed >> to work with the extra text to speech functionality, so be warned. It >> will also ask you to type the title of the game so it can be added to >> the supported >> list of games. If this is a game you plan to play often it is a good >> idea to put the game in a folder under the main WinFrotzTTS application >> so it is found >> on every startup. >> >> Game saving: >> >> When you type save the app will tell you to type some text. This text is >> used to create a file name in the same directory that the current game >> is running >> from. Text entered in the dialog is spoken aloud as well as deleted >> characters. It also handles file overwriting. You can always hit >> 'escape' to dismiss >> the dialog. >> >> Game restoring: >> >> When you type 'restore' the same kind of dialog for game loading comes >> up. The app tells you it is going to search a certain directory for >> saved games. >> You simply hit return and the app scans the directory for saved games. >> It then presents you with a list of save game titles and the name of the >> game that >> they were saved from, and you can use the up and down arrow keys again >> to find the saved game you want and hit enter to load it. >> >> You can also delete a game by highlighting a game and hitting the delete >> key. The app will then confirm your deletion by asking you to hit 'Y' or >> 'N'. >> >> The app will tell you whether it was successful or not. >> >> Command line speech: >> >> Most speech in the game can be interrupted. For example when the app is >> telling you which directory it wants to scan you can just hit return >> instead of >> sitting through the whole speech. When the game list comes up you can >> browse from game to game with the arrow keys, as soon as you move to the >> next game >> in the list, the previous game title read aloud is cut off. This is all >> done to save time and cut out a lot of repetitious reading. >> >> This also works on the command line in the game.. For instance when you >> continue to move into the same room in the game and the app reads the >> description >> over and over again. Simply hitting the space bar will clear the speech. >> You can also use the up and down arrow keys on the command line of the >> game to >> scroll through commands you have already entered and it will read them >> aloud. Don't worry about extra spaces before and after words, the game >> just ignores >> them so use spaces to verify what you have typed even if it is just one >> word. When backspace is used the deleted character is read aloud. >> >> Read again: >> >> Sometimes you want to hear a room description read again and not waste a >> turn to hear it. This can be done by hitting CTRL R which will read the >> last bit >> of text saved since the last command typed. >> >> Word list spelling: >> >> Many times, games use words that are not easy to spell or are not really >> words at all. Some thing like Frobozz. You would not know how many 'z's >> are in >> the word. To help with this you can hit CTRL Z after a room description, >> and a word list will be presented to you. Using the up and down arrow >> keys you >> can move from word to word or use a character to skip to a word in the >> alphabetic list and the word will be spoken aloud. If you hit 'space >> bar' the word >> is spelled out loud. If you hit 'enter' while on a word, the dialog is >> closed and the word is added to the command line so you don't have to >> type it. If >> you know you are going to use the word a lot, you can hit 'insert' and >> the word will be added to a scratch list that I will describe later. You >> can always >> hit escape to dismiss the dialog. >> >> Scratch list: >> >> Sometimes you want to save typing or keep track of certain word. By >> using the 'insert' key in the word list, words can be added to the >> scratch list. hit >> CTRL X to bring up the list. This list can be navigated just like the >> word list. Arrow keys move between entries ( spoken aloud ), characters >> move to words >> alphabetically, 'enter' adds the word to the command line, and 'space >> bar' spells the entry. The only difference is that 'delete' removes the >> entry from >> the list. The nice thing about the scratch list is that it is saved >> between WinFrotzTTS uses, so the next time you play it is still there. >> >> Input processing: >> >> Text entered on the interpreter command line is processed and words are >> read aloud after a space is entered. Since the interpreter ignores >> spaces, before >> and after words it can be used to verify input or stop speech. This can >> be useful if you are in and out of the same room over and over again and >> don't >> want to sit through the same boring description; just hitting space will >> clear the speech buffer. Hitting the 'delete' key will read the last >> deleted character >> out loud. Using the up and down arrow keys will cycle though the command >> history and read aloud the commands. Hitting enter on the command line >> will read >> the whole entry aloud before the interpreter's response. >> >> Options: >> >> I have added an setting in the options dialog to disable speech is >> application dialogs for people with screen readers. As well as fixed the >> voice selection >> dropdown. >> >> Voices: >> >> Speech voices can be chosen by hitting CTRL+Y. This is the standard >> speech list dialog used throughout WinFrotzTTS. You can use insert to >> hear a voice and >> then hit enter to select it. >> >> Code update: >> >> I have updated the code base to David Kinder's 'Windows Frotz 2002 >> 1.05'. >> >> Games support: >> >> In order to be able to have the interpreter recognize games despite >> their filenames, and since serial numbers don't seem to be a constant. I >> devised a fingerprinting >> system that identifies games. These numbers are read in from a simple >> XML file at interpreter startup and associates a file fingerprint with a >> game title. >> This makes it easier to add new games to the supported list and remove >> games that don't work and not have to make a new release. I will >> probably be making >> the tool for creating entries for this file available for people who >> want to add games to the list. At this time I have 328 games in the >> supported list. >> >> A caching system keeps this from bogging down application loading. You >> will see a performance slowdown when the first time the application is >> loaded and games are >> parsed. >> POST SCRIPT: >> >> >> I have done some things to modify the updated WinFrotzTTS2002 >> Interpreter, WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF W. SCOTT DILLMAN. This is replaceing >> the Microsoft Speech Engine. The AT&T's Natural Voices is also a SAPI 5 >> compliant speech engine. However, make note, there are some >> stipulations your PC **must have** in order to use this fantastic speech >> engine. Contact the makers of the AT&T's Natural Voices at >> http://www.nextup.com <http://www.nextup.com/> for further assistance. >> >> >> The E-mail with the link to the interpreter written by David Kinder is >> below::: >> >> The original version, without Scott's changes, is just called Windows >> Frotz 2002". You can get it here: >> >> http://mirror.ifarchive.org/if-archive/infocom/interpreters/frotz/Window >> sFrotz2002.zip >> >> David Kinder >> >> Hello Beto, >> first I'd like to apologize for delay in respoding to your email, next >> time I'll respond in 24 hours on business days. >> Because there is many text adventures from Infocom/Activision on our >> site, probably the best option is to use our fulltext search: >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/search.php?s=infocom >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/search.php?s=activision >> Here are some deep links, however this list is not complete: >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/role_playing_games/ga >> mes_n_r/quarterstaff_tomb_of_setmoth.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_g_h/h >> itchhiker_s_guide_to_the_galaxy_the.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_d/dea >> dline.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_p_r/p >> lundered_hearts.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_b/bey >> ond_zork_the_coconut_of_quendor.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_b/bal >> lyhoo.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_k_l/l >> eather_goddess_of_phobos_solid_gold_.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_k_l/l >> urking_horror_the.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_p_r/p >> lanetfall_solid_gold_.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_sa_so >> /seastalker.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_m_o/n >> ord_and_bert_couldn_t_make_head_or_tail_of_it.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_g_h/h >> ollywood_hijinx.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_sp_sw >> /spellbreaker.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_sp_sw >> /starcross.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_t_z/z >> ork_zero.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_t_z/z >> ork_quest_1_assault_on_egreth_castle.html >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_t_z/t >> ombs_and_treasure.html >> etc. For more games, please use our fulltext search as mentioned above. >> Is it only one game for that price, or are there >> more than one game in the Gold Seriesrice? >> We charge $4 or $6 fee for access to download section of our site. For >> $4 you'll able to download games without limitations for one day (24 >> hours), for >> $6 you'll be able to use our download service for 30 days. This period >> doesn't apply to playing the games, just for downloading. >> Would you encounter any probems, please don't hesitate to contact me. >> >> Regards, >> Ondrej Muncinsky >> http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/ >> Block quote start >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: >> Beto Escobar III >> To: >> Ondrej Muncinsky >> Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 8:28 PM >> Subject: Would You Please... >> >> Hello Ondrej-- >> Hello, this is Beto (Bay toe) Escobar III, LMSW, and I am the guy who >> E-mailed you a question regarding the Solid Gold Series of the >> Infocom/Activision >> games. Let me try to give you a brief synopsis of why I am asking these >> types of questions. The deal is that I am totally blind, and use a >> program on >> my Gateway PC entitled JAWS. JAWS is a screen reader, and reads out the >> text to me on my PC monitor. The thing is, however, that it is only a >> text reader, >> and as a result, the games I play are solely text. As a result, the >> games I really enjoy playing are all of the old Infocom text Adventures. >> This is >> not too bad because I really enjoyed playing all of these games when I >> purchased them in the mid to late 80's when I **did** have my sight! >> Well, what >> I want to ask of you Ondrej is if you would not mind sending me another >> E-mail with all of the Infocom/Activision games you have on your >> website? Please? >> I am specifically asking for the deep links to the exact pages where >> the links are at to download. >> One more thing, the only reason I am doing this now is that a new friend >> of mine, W. Scott Dillmanm, who is a programmer, by profession, at IBM >> has updated >> an Interpreter to play on Window N.T., 2000, and XP environments! You >> see Ondrej, when I played these games in the 80's I had my sight, and >> the most beautiful >> IBM PC with an 8088 processor! Do you remember those days! Well, now >> that I am blind, I was unable to get any type of Interpreter to work >> with a screen >> reader like JAWS. My friend, however, took it upon himself to do >> something for a community of people which would bring them some joy at >> this date and >> time in their lives. I make this statement because I am blind, and I >> have enjoyed being in the beta team helping Scott fix, and refix, and >> re-refix , >> the WinFrotzTTS2002 Interpreter! >> I will ask the question one more time, but would you please put together >> an E-mail with "deep links" to all of the Infocom and Activision games >> you have >> on your website. Especially all of the Gold Series of games... Please >> send the E-mail to both me and Scott... I will put both E-mail >> addresses below... >> Beto Escobar III: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> W. Scott Dillman: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Thank you my new friend, >> Beto Escobar III >> Block quote end >> >> >> >> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> >> >> >> to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. >> Yahoo! Groups Links >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > to leave send a blank Email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can contact the list owners/moderators by Emailing [EMAIL PROTECTED] to go nomail send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] change "nomail" to "normal" to resume messages. Yahoo! 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